Fluid coupling

Abstract

A fluid coupling comprises a fitting body, and a chamber within the fitting body, the chamber having at least one fluid conduit receiver bore and a restricted portion, the fluid conduit receiver bore configured to minimize unswept volume in the chamber.

1 . A fluid coupling, comprising: 
 a fitting body; and    a chamber within the fitting body, the chamber having at least one fluid conduit receiver bore and a restricted portion, the fluid conduit receiver bore configured to minimize unswept volume in the chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The fluid coupling of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the at least one fluid conduit receiver bore is larger than a diameter of the restricted portion.  
     
     
         3 . The fluid coupling of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one fluid tube extending partway into the fluid conduit receiver bore.  
     
     
         4 . The fluid coupling of  claim 3 , further comprising an additional bore in fluid communication with the chamber, the additional bore having a long axis substantially perpendicular to a long axis of the chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The fluid coupling of  claim 4 , further comprising a purge fluid introduced through the additional bore and into the chamber, wherein the purge fluid blocks ingress of air when the at least one fluid tube is disconnected from the fitting body.  
     
     
         6 . The fluid coupling of  claim 2 , wherein the inner diameter of the restricted portion is 0.5 mm+/−0.05 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The fluid coupling of  claim 6 , wherein the aspect ratio of the length of the restricted portion to the diameter of the restricted portion is approximately 2.5+/−0.6.  
     
     
         8 . The fluid coupling of  claim 7 , wherein the length of the restricted portion is at least 1.3 mm.  
     
     
         9 . The fluid coupling of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one fluid tube is part of a chromatographic system.  
     
     
         10 . The fluid coupling of  claim 3 , wherein at least one fluid conduit is part of a mass spectrometer system.  
     
     
         11 . The fluid coupling of  claim 3 , wherein at least one fluid conduit is part of an air-sensitive apparatus.  
     
     
         12 . A fluid coupling for an analytical device, comprising: 
 a fitting body;    a chamber within the fitting body, the chamber having at least one fluid conduit receiver bore and a restricted portion, the fluid conduit receiver bore configured to minimize unswept volume in the chamber, wherein a diameter of the fluid conduit receiver bore is larger than a diameter of the restricted portion;    an additional bore in fluid communication with the chamber, the additional bore having a long axis substantially perpendicular to a long axis of the chamber;    at least two fluid tubes extending partway into respective fluid conduit receiver bores; and    a purge fluid introduced through the additional bore and into the chamber, wherein the purge fluid interrupts the ingress of air into the chamber when one of the fluid tubes is disconnected from the fitting body.    
     
     
         13 . The fluid coupling of  claim 12 , wherein the inner diameter of the restricted portion is 0.5 mm+/−0.05 mm.  
     
     
         14 . The fluid coupling of  claim 13 , wherein the aspect ratio of the length of the restricted portion to the diameter of the restricted portion is approximately 2.5+/−0.6.  
     
     
         15 . The fluid coupling of  claim 14 , wherein the length of the restricted portion is at least 1.3 mm.  
     
     
         16 . The fluid coupling of  claim 15 , wherein at least one fluid tube is part of a chromatographic system.  
     
     
         17 . The fluid coupling of  claim 15 , wherein at least one fluid tube is part of a mass spectrometer system.  
     
     
         18 . The fluid coupling of  claim 15 , wherein at least one fluid conduit is part of an air-sensitive apparatus.  
     
     
         19 . A fluid coupling for an analytical device, comprising: 
 a fitting body;    a chamber within the fitting body, the chamber having at least one fluid conduit receiver bore and a restricted portion, the fluid conduit receiver bore configured to minimize unswept volume in the chamber, wherein a diameter of the fluid conduit receiver bore is larger than a diameter of the restricted portion; and    at least two fluid tubes extending partway into respective fluid conduit receiver bores.    
     
     
         20 . The fluid coupling of  claim 19 , further comprising an additional bore in fluid communication with the chamber, the additional bore having a long axis substantially perpendicular to a long axis of the chamber.